Wisdom from the writings of Gerhard Frost (1909-1987). Frost was a Lutheran pastor, poet, and seminary professor.
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Where forgiveness and salvation are at stake, I must not consult my fluctuating feelings. When I say this, I am reminded of my childhood days along the banks of a little local stream, the Riceford Creek. It was a tame little creek under normal circumstances, but following a heavy rain it could be quite a challenge for a child to cross it. I learned early, however that when I stepped from one flat rock to another, I was safe as long as I looked at the rocks; but dizziness would surely set in if I failed to concentrate on the unmoving rocks and looked away at the foaming stream. Today I know that spiritual dizziness sets in whenever I seek stability in my fluctuating moods and wavering feelings—all that foam and spray. I am at peace only when my heart is centered on Jesus, for he is the rock-solid ground of my joy and hope. (from Hungers of the Heart, Logos Press)
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We will always be asking Why? We are made to search for answers to our questions. This is our dignity. We are exploring, probing, searching, and reaching creatures. We are God’s hurting ones, and we will never cease to ask the ennobling Why? The mind can no more contain its whys than the body can hold its breath… But there are many ways of asking why. It can be whined or cursed or snarled or pouted. But it can also be prayed. A ‘why’ can be a child’s empty cup, held up to the love and wisdom of our gracious God. Our Lord never fills it to the brim, but he satisfies each person’s need. He is too kind to drown us in all the knowledge we crave. He doesn’t give us more than we can hold; sometimes we must wait to be made larger cups. Our present questions may even be the wrong ones. Then God helps us outgrow those questions and prompts move on to better ones… God knows that the road we must travel would overwhelm us if we could, in a single moment, see around every bend. He gives us a candle, rather than a floodlight, and He promises to be with us. He asks us to remember that mystery is one form of his mercy. His aim is not to keep things from us, but to keep things—the best things—for us. (The Color of the Night, p. 34-5)
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As a very young child, my greatest fear was of darkness. At times it even kept me awake. My father’s study was just across the hall, where often he would be at work at my bedtime. In a moment of panic I would cry out, frantic for a response. And the response always came: “Go to sleep, I am right here.” With this kind reassurance, I would rest…. My father didn’t bring a light, which is what I wanted. But he gave me something better; the assurance of his loving presence. A light would have left me alone, and if I really needed something, it could not help me. But my father could, and his presence is what I craved and what satisfied me. (The Color of the Night, p.112)
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It was sermon time in the little chapel of the local nursing home. The sermon was carefully prepared and delivered well. No matter how clear and eloquent the words, many of the listeners were unable to comprehend what was being said, but the young preacher continued on faithfully. He held a globe in his hands, spun it around, and praised the goodness of God, proclaiming that “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” Suddenly, a white-haired man in the second row raised his sleepy head and said loudly, “But you sure would never know it sometimes!” It was enough to sabotage any sermon, but what the old man said was true to the human situation, and everyone knew it… No matter how eloquent or well-prepared the preacher, the mystery of suffering cannot be solved in this broken world. One cannot prove the love or the omnipotence of God. We might want answers that can be explained with simple logic, but God wants from us humility and trust. God will lead us to the light, and one day we will see. (Silent Spaces, Logos Press, adapted)
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Psalm 119:105 — Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light unto my path.
John 14:27 — (Jesus said), “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Matthew 27:46 — Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (even Jesus asked ‘Why?’)
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Heavenly Father, teach me to trust you and be courageous, so that I will not be dismayed by any storm or temptation. Keep my eyes fixed on you in fearless faith, so that with perfect confidence I will trust you to save me, bringing me through the troubles of this life to the riches of your mercy. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
–Gerhard Tersteegen (1697-1769), German devotional writer.
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In parenting and teaching, let this be our aim: Not to make every idea safe for children, but every child safe for ideas.
–Gerhard Frost
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